The LoHud Yankees Blog

Joe Torre hosted his annual “Safe at Home” gala at Chelsea Piers on Friday night, and there were still a ton of Yankees in attendance especially since Mariano Rivera was being honored on the 10-year anniversary of the 1999 World Series where he was MVP.

Torre told reporters there that it was a little “surreal” for him to see the Yankees winning the World Series without him, “but to watch what they’ve done, and especially with Joe Girardi at the helm, it really made me feel good even though I’m supposed to be a National League fan. When you’re as close to these guys as I have been for all these years, I was just real pleased for them.” Torre, by the way, is apparently in discussions to extend his Dodgers deal for one more year.

There was plenty of talk about former Yankee John Wetteland, who was admitted to the hospital under bizarre circumstances this week after a possible suicide attempt. “I will pray for him,” Rivera said.

Hideki Matsui said he would be disappointed if he did not remain a Yankee, but would also embrace the challenge of playing elsewhere. “If that happens, I think it would be disappointing,” Matsui told reporters through an interpreter. “On the other hand, it’s something to look forward to. It means that it’s going to be a new change and something different for me, a new challenge. In that sense, I’ll definitely take it in a positive way. The Yankees have their own plans, too, and you have to respect that.”

So, in addition to having a career year, winning the World Series and spending most of his free time with Minka Kelly, Derek Jeter is also breaking into acting. Clearly impressed by his performance in the now-famous conga line commercial with George Steinbrenner, Hollywood types have the Captain playing himself in an upcoming movie called “The Other Guys.” Jeter, who also plays an older version of himself, was shooting scenes for the movie in Coney Island on Thursday.

According to one plot description, Jeter is shot in the leg by two cops – played by Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg – who wrongly fire on Jeter after seeing him with a bat. Since the film is directed by Adam McKay, who also did “Anchorman” and “Talladega Nights,” one  can only imagine that hilarity ensues.  For the full cast (which includes the lovely Eva Mendes, Sam Jackson and – seriously – Paris Hilton), click here.

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Also, since some of you e-mailed asking about my vacation – and because I know the love we all share for food on here – I thought I’d give a quick summary in terms of cuisine. Jess and I went to the Cape for a few days and enjoyed cupcakes from the Black Dog Bakery, lobster rolls from several places, pancakes for the table (of course!) at Betsy’s Diner and a fantastic swordfish dish at a new restaurant which I’d recommend to anyone called The Glass Onion in Falmouth. Nice ambiance, fresh fish, good flavors — so far as I could tell, it’s the best part of Red Sox Nation I’ve found.

We also snacked on fudge while going candle-pin bowling one night, which I quickly learned is a) nothing like Wii Bowling; and b) really frustrating. Still, a great time was had by all and I appreciated all of you who e-mailed. I would think things in the Hot Stove will stay quiet for the rest of the weekend, but I’ll check in a few times before Chad and I get back cranking on Monday.

If you’re looking for some light reading on this Friday evening, you might be interested in a piece that Arn Tellem – otherwise known as Hideki Matsui’s agent – wrote for The Huffington Post about … Hideki Matsui.

The arguments for and against Matsui figure to rage on for a while. On one hand, he’s just a DH (albeit one who can really hit). On the other hand, he’s a DH – who can really hit! Not surprisingly, Tellem thinks Matsui has a lot left.

The Associated Press talked to Aroldis Chapman on Thursday, and although there are few surprises in the resulting article, a few things did stand out.

Here’s the description of Chapman during the interview: “…all blinged out… wearing a large, shiny watch and gleaming earrings.” His agent called him a “once-every-40-years player.” The article mentions figures between $15 million and $50 million. It’s hard to be shocked by such things these days, but Chapman is going to be really expensive. He might be worth it if that golden left arm finds the strike zone enough, but that’s going to be a high-dollar risk for some team.

The article also once again confirms that Chapman was at Yankee Stadium for Game 6 of the ALCS. It also quotes Chapman saying he doesn’t believe the major leagues will present any significant problems, but Chapman goes on to say, “If a team wants me to go to the minors to get ready and prepare, that’s what I’m going to do and I will show that I should be pitching in the major leagues.”

I can’t imagine the Yankees signing Chapman with plans to put him immediately into the big league rotation — that plan didn’t work so well with Kei Igawa — but for that sort of money, they’re going to expect him to advance to New York very quickly and be very good when he gets there.

On the last day of the GM Meetings, I asked Brian Cashman if he’s going into this offseason thinking about Hideki Matsui as a potentially departing designated hitter or as a potentially departing No. 5 hitter. Matsui is both, of course, but there seems to be a slight difference between the two ways to think of him. As a DH, his spot is one that could be filled by any type of player. As a No. 5 hitter, his role is pretty specific as a run producer and as protection for Alex Rodriguez. 

“I have not looked at what our lineup looks like yet,” Cashman said.

Without Matsui and without Johnny Damon, what does the Yankees lineup look like right now? How would you line it up, using only players under contract for next season?

1. Derek Jeter, SS
2. Nick Swisher, LF
3. Mark Teixeira, 1B
4. Alex Rodriguez, 3B
5. Jorge Posada, C
6. Robinson Cano, 2B
7. Melky Cabrera, RF
8. Juan Miranda, DH
9. Brett Gardner, CF

This very cool bit of journalism was emailed from Austria (thank you John). According to Google’s translator, the headline says: Precisely where this Trophy belongs to.

I assume that’s the translation of the Derek Jeter quote. Pretty cool to see what the Yankees World Series win looks like so far from home.

Looks pretty much the same, doesn’t it?

Two things to note about the Yankees’ list of first-time Rule 5 eligible players.

College players drafted in 2006 are eligible for the first time.

That means, had they not been called up in their first full season, this would be the first year Ian Kennedy and Joba Chamberlain would have to be protected. Gives you a good feel for just how quickly those two were brought to the major leagues. David Robertson and Mark Melancon would also have to be protected for the first time if they weren’t already on the 40-man.

High school players from the 2005 draft are also eligible this year.

The Yankees took shockingly few high school players in 2005. Of their first 20 picks, 18 came out of college. The only exceptions were ninth-round pick Austin Jackson and first-round pick C.J. Henry. In a draft that may go down as one of the best in baseball history — the first round alone included Upton, Zimmerman, Braun, Tulowitzki, Maybin, McCutchen, Bruce, Ellsbury, Garza and Rasmus — the Yankees got a dud in Henry, who’s disappointing career has led him out of baseball.

This morning we looked at the Yankees minor leaguers who are eligible for the Rule 5 draft for the first time. This afternoon, we’ll look at the guys were were eligible last season and will be eligible again. This list does not include players like Eric Duncan who would have to be added to the 40-man to avoid free agency. Unlike last year – when Eric Hacker and Wilkin de La Rosa were added for just that reason — I’m not sure the Yankees have any first-time minor league free agents who are especially strong candidates for 40-man spots this time around.

The Yankees do, however, have a lot of repeat Rule 5 eligible players who have significantly boosted their stock in the past 12 months. All of these players were eligible for the Rule 5 last year and remain in the organization.

Pitchers: J.B. Cox, Grant Duff, Alan Horne, Zack Kroenke, Ivan Nova, Jonathan Ortiz, Romulo Sanchez, Josh Schmidt, Brett Smith, Kevin Whelan, Eric Wordekemper
Catchers: Kyle Anson, P.J. Pilittere
Infielders: Reegie Corona, Chris Malec
Outfielders: James Cooper

There are a lot of things to like about the position players on this list, but the only one that stands out as a real Rule 5 candidate is Reegie Corona. He was one of four Yankees taken in last year’s Rule 5, but Seattle ultimately decided not to keep him as a utility infielder. He can play second, third and short — his best position is second base — and he has good speed, but Triple-A gave him some very real problems this season. To me, Corona ranks behind Kevin Russo and Eduardo Nunez in the race for infield 40-man spots, but there are plenty who disagree with me. Corona might be the most versatile and possibly the fastest of the bunch. He could be protected, and if not, he could be drafted.

The best returning candidates, though, are pitchers. Especially Ivan Nova, Romulo Sanchez, Grant Duff, Zach Kroenke and Kevin Whelan.

I believe Nova will be added. That’s strictly a guess, but he really came into his own out of the Triple-A rotation this year. Nova has long been touted for his raw stuff, but he wasn’t ready for the big leagues when the Padres took him in last year’s Rule 5. He works down in the zone with his fastball and can go to both his changeup and curveball to generate ground balls. He has continued to pitch well in winter ball. The Yankees got him back after last year’s Rule 5 draft, but I don’t think they would be as lucky this time around.

Sanchez is an interesting case. The Yankees got him mid-season from Pittsburgh, where he had some major league time out of the bullpen. The Yankees began using him out of the Triple-A rotation and he was able to throw 97 mph into the fifth inning. To go with that fastball, he also has a nice changeup and a slider. Sanchez would have been an easy choice to leave unprotected, but he was so good in the last month or so that I wonder if the Yankees figured out some things with him and now see him as potential help in New York.

Duff, Kroenke and Whelan are relievers. Kroenke is a lefty who wasn’t given much of a chance in big league camp after the Marlins took him in last year’s Rule 5, but he was outstanding with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. None of his pitches is overwhelming, but he mixes a fastball, splitfinger and slider and put up great Triple-A numbers. He pitched well enough to earn a 40-man spot, but I wonder if the Yankees might take a chance on him getting through the Rule 5 because they already have Phil Coke, Damaso Marte and Mike Dunn as left-handed relievers on the 40-man. I believe Kroenke will be drafted if left exposed, I just wonder if it’s a risk the Yankees might be willing to take.

Duff and Whelan both throw hard from the right side (Duff probably maxes out a little higher). I knew next to nothing about Duff until he climbed from High-A to Triple-A this season, getting his fastball into the upper 90s. He burst onto the map and the Yankees responded by sending him to the Arizona Fall League, where he’s continued to pitch well. My guess is there was no consideration to putting him on the 40-man last year, but there will be strong consideration this year. Whelan is one of the players added from Detroit in the Gary Sheffield trade. He’s long had a reputation for not throwing strikes, but he did a good job of it after a promotion to Triple-A this season. One bad outing throws his total walk total out of proportion, but most nights he was able to throw strikes. He was Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s closer in the playoffs.

Even if you only casually follow the minor league system, you might know the names J.B. Cox and Alan Horne as once highly touted prospects who have been slowed by injury. Cox has fallen far off the map — possibly to the verge of retirement — while Horne has taken some steps forward after a series of injuries. I’ve been a huge believer in Horne since I saw him in the spring of 2008, but I don’t believe he’ll be protected or taken in the Rule 5. Wouldn’t be surprised to see him get to New York, though.

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The total number of players protected depends on how many roster spots the Yankees can open. Two came open with Freddy Guzman and Josh Towers being outrighted. There are other non-tender candidates who could open spots as well.

Personally, I would put Austin Jackson, Ivan Nova, Eduardo Nunez and Kevin Russo at the top of the list of players to protect. As for the other candidates, I might put Grant Duff and Romulo Sanchez next in line because of their fastballs, but those two, Zach Kroenke, Kevin Whelan and Kanekoa Texeira are pretty close in my mind. Depends on the Yankees internal preferences. There’s no way they’ll have room to protect them all. Something will have to give, one way or another.

I’ve been getting a ton of emails about the Rule 5 draft, most of them asking which players need to be protected and which are likely to be protected. I was going to go over the whole thing in one post, but it’s a lot of information so I’ll break it into two parts.

First things first, the easiest way to think about Rule 5 eligibility is that high school players drafted in 2005 and college players drafted in 2006 become eligible this year. It’s a little more complicated than that, but that’s a good starting point. For more on what determines eligibility, check here, here and here.

Second thing to know is that in order to protect a player, he must be added to the 40-man by November 20.

With that out of a way, we’ll start by looking at guys who are Rule 5 eligible for the first time. I’m sure there are some players I’ve overlooked, but I’m fairly certain I have all of the viable new Rule 5 candidates listed here. And there are some listed here who have almost no chance of being taken.

Pitchers: Jonathan Hovis, George Kontos, Paul Patterson, Kanekoa Texeira
Catchers: None
Infielders: Mitch Hilligoss, Eduardo Nunez, Luis Nunez, Kevin Russo, Kevin Smith
Outfielders: Colin Curtis, Seth Fortenberry, Austin Jackson

Austin Jackson will be added to the 40-man. He is the Yankees’ top position prospect other than Jesus Montero and there is zero chance he’ll be left off the roster, barring a trade. Beyond Jackson, three names stand out to me: Eduardo Nunez, Kevin Russo and Kanekoa Texeira.

You might remember Nunez from spring training. He had some nice moments in big league camp, then he hit .322 as an all-star shortstop in Double-A Trenton. He made 33 errors, but that bat is very nice for a middle infielder. As for Russo, he was the International League’s postseason all-star second baseman last year. I watched him all year and honestly believe he was the best lead-off hitter in the league, as a rookie. He’s a good defender at second and third with limited experience at shortstop and in the outfield. I believe both Russo and Nunez are worth protecting and would almost certainly be drafted, but with Ramiro Pena already on the roster, that’s a lot of 40-man spots to devote to middle infielders.

Texeira was a bonus of the Nick Swisher trade. I actually have no idea why the White Sox included him, but he had a 2.84 ERA with Trenton. He’s primarily a reliever but made six starts. I didn’t see him in person so I can’t tell you much about what he throws, I just know that I’ve heard good things about him.

The rest would probably pass through the Rule 5 undrafted. George Kontos is a Triple-A starter who would have been a great Rule 5 candidate, but he had Tommy John surgery last season and isn’t expected back until May or June. That might keep him safe. Colin Curtis could and probably should also draw some attention as a toolsy center fielder — he’s having a great Arizona Fall League — but I’m not sure there’s room for him on the Yankees 40-man.

Beyond Jackson, I’d say that at least one of Russo and Nunez — maybe both – will be added. Maybe Texeira as well. How many of the newly eligible players are protected might depend on how many of the second-timers are protected this time around. We’ll get into that this afternoon…

After three days of GM Meetings in Chicago, Brian Cashman was in no different position on Wednesday than when he arrived on Monday.  As I wrote in today’s paper, the Yankees’ general manager had some discussions about the trade market but did not meet with a single agent. The Yankees most significant move was to outright Freddy Guzman and Josh Towers into free agency.

Cashman will now meet with his scouts and various other decision makers to set a strategy for the winter. He’ll decide who to protect from the Rule 5 draft, who to non-tender, who to re-sign, who to go after in free agency and who to target on the trade market. The offseason is just getting started.